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“Oh my, what happened?”
Prim put down the brush that she was holding loosely. Her face was full of surprised.
“Prim!”
Elena smiled brightly and hugged Prim. Prim was still speechless with the sudden visit but ended up hugging her back.
“I am a bit sad, Prim. You didn’t even bother to tell me that you have become an Imperial Painter.”
“I’m sorry, the situation was too hectic. I forgot to tell you.”
“If I hadn’t visited you, I think you would never tell me, right?”
“No.”
Prim shook her head vigorously, denying her accusation. Elena sighs and says that she just let it slide this time.
“But it’s great to see you again like this.”
She clasped Prim’s hand. Her eyes glistened like a red ruby.
Prim just smiled with Elena’s presence.
“You guys are too close.”
A deep yet pleasing voice was heard from the door. It was Reynsis. His flaming blue eyes glared at their hands but his mouth formed a smile.
Elena deliberately pulled Prim’s hand close to her and flashed a bright smile to him. Reynsis’s eyebrows twiched with the sight.
A bright invisible spark flashed between them. But being dense as she is, she would never noticed the uncomfortable tension between the so-called main characters.1
“Wait a minute, wait.”
She felt a sudden cold shivers and murderous intent inside the room. She quickly raised her hands and stopped both of them.
She was happy to meet Elena. But the situation between Reynsis and Elena was a bit unexpected.
‘Have you two been together this time?’
Prim stared at Reynsis, who had been glaring at Elena for some time. When their eyes met, he quickly flashed a smile towards Prim.
‘I don’t know about this, but…’
Reynsis’s eyes filled with an unknown anticipation.
That kind of look gave him a pleasant feeling.
‘If the girl wasn’t here, I could use my eyes as an excuse to hug her.’
Elena recalled their conversation together an hour ago.
It was when she was hit with a sudden realization.
—
– An hour ago.
“Wait! I don’t really get it. So, you are saying that you have to pretend… lo.. loving me?”1
“If you don’t want to talk then, it’s your loss.”
“No, it’s okay. So in conclusion, I have to act like that right?”
“..Yes.”
“Why is that?”
Elena asked back in confusion.
He couldn’t reply. This is the only way to stop Prim from looking for another beautiful woman.
“Prim wants to put someone next to me.”
“But I thought Prim liked – Hmm, or am I mistaken?”
Reynsis clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“That is something that shouldn’t concern you.”
“And may I ask, why did you pick me?”
“Because you want to see Prim every day. I’m too tired to bring someone else and explain everything from the beginning.”
Elena just nodded her head.
It was a win-win situation where both parties had nothing to lose.
It was also a great opportunity to use the 8th Prince’s authority to enter the Palace.
She can also see Prim and visit the painting room where the Imperial painters put their canvas.
But it was a bit disappointing to have the Prince in their meeting. But she could still bear it since it was a pleasing offer to her.
“I will follow your instructions, Your Highness.”
Eventually, she nodded and the contract between the two was made.
—
Unaware of the whole story, Prim was delighted with the progress.
‘As expected, Elena was the Beauty!’
She didn’t get it wrong!
She couldn’t control her joy easily. The blush on Prim’s cheek disturbed him.
It was pleasant to see her bright face, but the fact that he had to exclude himself from her heart made him frustrated.
Reynsis felt overwhelmed with his own feelings.
[ Knock, knock, knock ]
There were knocks on the door. Prim walked towards the big and sturdy door as she opened it slowly.
“I’m sorry to disturb your time, Miss. But have you perhaps seen Lady Elena?”
The woman was Elena’s servant. She gave her an urgent and awkward look as if she was in a hurry to escort her lady.
“It’s about time that the Baron will come.”
“I don’t want to. We still haven’t held any decent conversation yet.”
Elena quietly whined as Prim caressed her back to comfort her.
“You can come again later.”
Prim said and deliberately pointed at Reynsis. Elena just pouted and nodded in defeat.
“Alright, can you spare some time for me to visit?”
“Of course.”
After confirming their appointment, Elena left the room along with her servant.
She stared at the door with a big smile on her face. Then suddenly, something dropped on her shoulder.
“Are you that happy?”
Reynsis leaned on her shoulder with a face full of grudges. But Prim was happy with that, so he just shrugged it off.
“There is actually your fated partner. It was a good thing. But actually I was a bit confused for a moment.”
“Haha, really.”
Reynsis spoke with an uninterested voice. Prim looked at his face, that was snuggled on her side.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?”
“I’m going crazy -“
Reynsis shut his mouth. Now that he’s been talking to Elena, he must prepare his acting skills.
‘Then…’
Reynsis decided to sort out the situation. So, it will be according to his plan and he can take an advantage while acting.
“But there is a bigger problem.”
He tried to lower his voice and made a sad expression.
“I don’t think that she loves me.”
Reynsis clenched his fist at the word ‘love’, but fortunately Prim didn’t see it.
“What? Don’t you both like each other?”
Prim’s eyes widened as Reynsis looked down while dropping his head deeper.
“I don’t have that many experiences with women, you know. You always taught me about it, but I guess you are not good at teaching me that stuff.”
“Ah…”
Her face became dull, as she looked kind of sad. Seeing her defenceless like that, he snuck his hand onto her fingers as their warm hands entangled with each other.
“So, that’s why..”
Reynsis blinked slowly as his blue glimmering eyes fluttered slightly.
“You have to keep teaching me. I don’t want to look clumsy in front of her.”
Again, he dropped his eyes.2
“You are my tutor, and it is your obligation to teach me.”1
Prim nodded since she understands his situation. If she were in his shoe, she would never want to show any sign of mistake in front of her partner.
“Of course I will help you.”
His face bloomed. That pretty and flawless face becomes brighter if he’s happy.
Then, Reynsis narrowed the middle of his forehead as if he was hurting so much. That sudden change of expression made Prim anxious.
“Did your eyes hurt again?”
“Yes. It’s like this again.”
His forehead creased and their hand squeezed together. Prim was nervous and held his hand still.
“Goodness, your skin is damaged. I’ll take care of this.”
Reynsis bent his upper body as his blue clear eyes stared at her.
‘Why does it keep on hurting?’ Prim pondered nervously as she bit her lips.
But this pain won’t last long either.
If the Beauty met the Beast, their love can lift up the curse.
“Don’t worry, I’m always here.”
Prim caressed his hair as the two smiled while facing towards each other.
***
Elena and Reynsis sat opposite to each other with a sour expression plastered on their face.
‘I didn’t mean for you to teach me too.’
Reynsis sighs. Standing in her official uniform, Prim smiled in satisfaction while seeing them together.
He couldn’t ignore that anticipation within those black midnight eyes.
“…. We meet again, my lady. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
He didn’t look happy at all. It was because he felt sorry to his cheeks that he was forcing himself to smile.
“….Haha, it is an honor to meet you like this, Your Highness.”
Elena greeted the Prince with courtesy as she bowed her head more deeply than it was supposed to be. She was trying to hide her face so that she could calm her heart while acting.
After she raised her head, their eyes met. As if disgusted with the sight, the two of them avoided eye contact.
‘Aww, this is what youth looks like.’
(Note: she thought that they were being shy towards each other like teenagers in love.)
Prim, who knows nothing about their contract, was pleased. It was because she thought that they were being shy towards each other.
‘Since I am the oldest, I must take the lead.’
Prim thought as she lifted the teapot and poured their tea in their teacups.
“Sit here. So we can enjoy our tea.”
Prim approached them as she led the two to the dining table.
Naturally the Prince will seat in the centre and as for Elena, a noble woman will sit at the edge of the table beside the royal Prince.
Prim took a seat opposite to Elena.
“I have prepared a rosemary tea with a good fragrance as recommended by the kitchen’s servants.”
Prim smiled as she put down the teapot.
Elena was overwhelmed with happiness after seeing what Prim has prepared for her.
“Oh my, it’s my favourite tea!”
“Thankfully it suited your taste.”
“Prim and I have the same taste… uh..”
Elena blushed shyly and couldn’t continue to speak. It was amazing that their taste was the same.
“Me too.”
Then, a low pitch voice interrupted their heart-warming conversation.
“It’s my favourite tea, so that is good for me.”
Elena’s laughter stopped abruptly. Their eyes met with each other without notice.
Reynsis just shrugged his shoulder. I can do it too, childish. Elena narrowed her eyes while being sulky.
“Here you go.”
Prim served the tea to the Prince and Elena. Both of them lifted the teacup.
“Thank you.”
“Thanks Prim!”
They eventually took a sip of the tea that Prim brewed.
“….”
“….”
Both of them froze on the spot and nearly choked but they held in.
The tea tasted weird and burnt. What did Prim do until the rosemary tea leaves tasted like that.
‘This is not tea, it’s poi⁹son!’